Day: July 3, 2017

UN Security Council extends sanctions on illicit oil exports from Libya

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The U.N. Security Council has extended sanctions on illegal oil exports from Libya to cover refined petroleum products as well, in a bid to stem rampant smuggling of subsidized fuel by sea, according to Reuters. Imported fuel that is priced lower for the domestic market is commonly smuggled by ship from western Libya to Malta, Italy and Turkey, and by land to Tunisia, according to U.N. investigators who earlier this month recommended an extension of the sanctions. Entrenched and powerful smuggling networks have been trading fuel for years, and it…

Wazin town to launch soilless farming project

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A new project in agriculture technology known as the soilless farming (hydroponics) is to be launched in Wazin, a town in the western region of Libya that serves as a border crossing with Tunisia. The Municipality of Wazin said it will launch the hydroponic farming project of growing vegetables on surfaces and balconies after its successful farming of freshwater fish. Wazin Mayor, Mohamed Juma Sunam, said that the idea of implementing the soilless farming system was a step by the Municipality to motivate families to self-sufficiency and to localize the…

Report says half of Africa facing “serious levels of hunger”

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Twenty-eight African countries fall into the “serious levels of hunger” category, according to a Global Hunger Index (Africa Edition) report released in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Sunday. Only three of Africa’s 54 countries – Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco – are considered to have low levels of hunger, the report said. According to the report by the African Union and New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), based on data from studies in 2015 and 2016, the level of hunger in five African countries was categorised as “alarming.” Positive developments The report also contained…

Quebec Minister Lise Thériault on economic mission to the Maghreb

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Quebec Deputy Premier Lise Thériault, also the minister responsible for the status of women, is on an economic and diplomatic mission to the Maghreb region. Accompanied by several businesswomen, Thériault aims to promote Quebec women’s entrepreneurship and strengthen Quebec’s commercial relations with Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco. During this mission, which will run until July 9, Thériault will be supported by a delegation composed mainly of women entrepreneurs, including Danièle Henkel. The rate of women entrepreneurs in Quebec has risen from 20 per cent in 1976 to 39 per cent in 2016. In…

Nordic countries lift travel ban to Tunisia

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Three Nordic countries have lifted their travel ban to Tunisia, the Tunisian foreign affairs ministry announced yesterday. The countries include Denmark, Norway and Iceland. In 2015, the European countries had called on their citizens not to travel to Tunisia following the Sousse attack. Sweden and Finland recently allowed their citizens to travel to Tunisia. On several occasions, the Tunisian government had repeatedly called for the lifting of the travel ban which has been adopted by some countries, stressing on a clear improvement of the security situation in the North African…

Ending Impunity for Crimes against Journalists

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Op-ed co written by Swedish Minister of Culture and Democracy, Alice Bah Kuhnke and Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director-General The safety of journalists is deteriorating across the globe. Journalists and media workers are victims of censorship, pressure, threats, physical abuse, violent attacks or mortal violence. Tackling this challenge successfully calls for political will and intensified cooperation. We call on all governments to join UNESCO in a renewed and stronger commitment to defend freedom of expression. The protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms is a priority of the Swedish government. The…